The Eastern Cape government yesterday announced it would allocate an additional R18.3-million to finance struggling students at higher learning institutions across the province.
Finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo revealed that provincial treasury would allocate the amount to students through Premier Phumulo Masualle’s office.
Somyo was talking at the Bhisho legislature where he was tabling his department’s medium-term budget policy and the 2015-16 adjustment appropriation bill.
He said Masualle would use the allocation to assist 613 struggling students.
The announcement comes after students at various institutions of higher learning protested against increasing university fees.
In a visit to Fort Hare’s Alice campus earlier this year, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed Masualle’s office to allocate more funding for students.
Ramaphosa said his office would devise other “medium-term measures” to support the struggling students.
Somyo revealed yesterday that his department had made total adjustments to the budget of provincial departments equalling R1.45-billion.
He said of this amount, R653.8-million was from the national coffers.
“The medium-term budget policy statement gives us the opportunity to reassess our resource allocation in line with the prevailing economic context and to a certain degree to review and enhance government’s commitments,” said Somyo.
He said the provincial government will continue “to take tough decisions” to ensure that scarce resources are directed towards financing government priorities.
He said treasury will be allocating a total adjustment of R253-million to the education department, while health will receive R226.7-million.
“This will be mainly to cater for cost pressure as a result of medico legal claims, carry through costs for the leasing of 110 ambulances procured in the previous financial year, costs in respect of the Cuban programme, and to fund cost pressure on medicines and medical supplies,” Somyo said.
He said a further R15-million “to fund efficiencies” in the troubled Magwa Tea Estate in Lusikisiki, will be made available to Masualle’s office.
Somyo said roads and public works will receive additional funding of R28.9-million, R15.5-million of which will be used for the shortfall on rates and taxes owed to provincial municipalities and R7-million for security management of state assets.
“Economic development, environmental affairs and tourism is allocated additional funding of R55.8-million, with R53-million going to Coega to manage the efficiencies at this critical institution of our economy.
“Transport receives an additional R16.2-million to ensure that the Mthatha Airport terminal building is finalised and runway lights replaced,” said Somyo.
He added that cooperative governance and traditional affairs will be allocated R3.3-million for implementation of the Initiation Policy and for monitoring of initiation programme during the upcoming summer season.
Major boost for struggling students
Finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo revealed that provincial treasury would allocate the amount to students through Premier Phumulo Masualle’s office.
Somyo was talking at the Bhisho legislature where he was tabling his department’s medium-term budget policy and the 2015-16 adjustment appropriation bill.
He said Masualle would use the allocation to assist 613 struggling students.
The announcement comes after students at various institutions of higher learning protested against increasing university fees.
In a visit to Fort Hare’s Alice campus earlier this year, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed Masualle’s office to allocate more funding for students.
Ramaphosa said his office would devise other “medium-term measures” to support the struggling students.
Somyo revealed yesterday that his department had made total adjustments to the budget of provincial departments equalling R1.45-billion.
He said of this amount, R653.8-million was from the national coffers.
“The medium-term budget policy statement gives us the opportunity to reassess our resource allocation in line with the prevailing economic context and to a certain degree to review and enhance government’s commitments,” said Somyo.
He said the provincial government will continue “to take tough decisions” to ensure that scarce resources are directed towards financing government priorities.
He said treasury will be allocating a total adjustment of R253-million to the education department, while health will receive R226.7-million.
“This will be mainly to cater for cost pressure as a result of medico legal claims, carry through costs for the leasing of 110 ambulances procured in the previous financial year, costs in respect of the Cuban programme, and to fund cost pressure on medicines and medical supplies,” Somyo said.
He said a further R15-million “to fund efficiencies” in the troubled Magwa Tea Estate in Lusikisiki, will be made available to Masualle’s office.
Somyo said roads and public works will receive additional funding of R28.9-million, R15.5-million of which will be used for the shortfall on rates and taxes owed to provincial municipalities and R7-million for security management of state assets.
“Economic development, environmental affairs and tourism is allocated additional funding of R55.8-million, with R53-million going to Coega to manage the efficiencies at this critical institution of our economy.
“Transport receives an additional R16.2-million to ensure that the Mthatha Airport terminal building is finalised and runway lights replaced,” said Somyo.
He added that cooperative governance and traditional affairs will be allocated R3.3-million for implementation of the Initiation Policy and for monitoring of initiation programme during the upcoming summer season.
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